LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Ursinus College gymnastics team closed its 2015 season Saturday afternoon during the individual competition at the 2015 National Gymnastics Coaches Association Championship hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
After Saturday's competition, the Bears crowned eight All-Americans over the four events. To earn All-American status, a gymnast must finish in the in the top 12, with the top six being first-team.
The highest place finishers on Saturday were senior Kristin Aichele (Upper Black Eddy, Pa./Palisades) and junior Kristina Steffenhagen (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area) who finished in a four-way tie for third on the vault with a score of 9.675. Both were named first-team NCGA All-Americans.
Sophomore Vanessa Scalora (Narragansett, R.I.) finished fifth on the bars with a new school record score of 9.775, just .25 out of a four-way first-place tie. Scalora finished in a three-way tie for fifth, earning first-team All-American honors.
On the balance beam, sophomore Jillian Casarella (Seekonk, Mass./Bishop Feehan) finished ninth with a score of 9.525, while Steffenhagen took tenth at 9.400 and freshman Amanda Palladino (Coatesville, Pa.) was 11th at 9.100. All three were named second-team All-Americans.
Finally, on the floor exercise, sophomore Kelsey Jewell (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Schuylerville) was 11th with a score of 9.625, as was freshman Monique Brooks (Beltsville, Md./High Point). Both were named second-team All-Americans.
Ursinus assistant coach Emily Repko was named as the NCGA East Assistant Coach of the Year, while seniors Riley Acton (Acton, Mass./Acton), Aichele, Jamie Hammell (West Milford, N.J.), Adelaide Hurlbert (Inman, S.C./Spartansburg Day School) and Tianna Lettieri (Old Forge, Pa.) were named NCGA Senior Scholar-Athletes.